Mala Strana (Lesser Quarter)

Established in 1257, this is Prague's most perfectly formed—yet totally asymmetrical—neighborhood. Also known as "Little Town," it was home to the merchants and craftsmen who served the royal court. Though not nearly as confusing as the labyrinth that is Old Town, the streets in the Lesser Quarter can baffle, but they also bewitch, and today the area holds embassies, Czech government offices, historical attractions, and galleries mixed in with the usual glut of pubs, restaurants, and souvenir shops.